Is Creed based on a True Story? Ending Explained, Plot, and More
by Hemalatha R | Updated Apr 10, 2023
Is Creed based on a True Story?
Creed is not based on a true story. Creed is a movie directed by Ryan Coogler that brought the Rocky franchise back to life with a new twist. The original Rocky series consisted of six movies, with Sylvester Stallone as the lead character, Rocky Balboa, and Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed. Both characters were entirely fictional, which means that Creed is not based on a true story. Ryan Coogler wanted to pay tribute to his father, who was a huge Rocky fan and suffered from a medical condition that made his muscles shrink.
While preparing for his debut movie Fruitvale Station, Coogler got the idea of creating a movie where one of his father's heroes also suffered from a similar condition and had a young man change his life. Thus, Creed was born, with Coogler using his knowledge of the Rocky movie series and adding his own direction to it. Although Creed was Coogler's first directing job, Sylvester Stallone was impressed by his debut movie Fruitvale Station and agreed to work on the project. Coogler revealed that the movie was emotional for his father, who was touched by many of the scenes shown in the movie.
Three years after Creed's successful release, Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan reprised their roles as Rocky and Donnie Creed, respectively, in Creed 2, which was also a hit among fans and critics. Michael B. Jordan will make his directorial debut in Creed 3, set to release on November 23, 2022. In summary, Creed is a fictional movie with a new twist on the Rocky franchise, directed by Ryan Coogler as a tribute to his father and his love for the Rocky movies. While not based on a true story, the movie has been successful and will continue with the upcoming release of Creed 3.
Creed Ending Explained
The 2015 film Creed is not based on a true story. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the movie brought back the Rocky franchise with a fresh twist. In the film, Adonis “Donnie” Johnson, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, a character from the original Rocky franchise, is a small-time boxer who wants to follow in his father’s footsteps. Donnie resigns from his finance job to pursue boxing but is rejected by Los Angeles’ elite Delphi Boxing Academy. Disappointed, he travels to Philadelphia to meet Rocky Balboa, the man whom his father helped to rise to the top. Donnie meets Rocky at his Italian restaurant, Adrian’s, and urges him to help train him. Seeing Donnie’s passion for boxing, Rocky agrees to be his trainer. Despite being offered his father’s name, Donnie uses his biological mother’s surname, Johnson, and is initially reluctant to accept his father’s legacy. However, after being challenged to a fight by World Light Heavyweight champion Ricky Conlan, who is retiring due to an impending prison term, Donnie agrees to change his name to Creed.
During the training, Rocky is diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but Donnie urges him to seek treatment. Donnie is ready to take on Conlan and starts off strong, but Conlan’s armor is difficult to break. After being knocked down in a brutal manner, Donnie recovers and gets back on his feet after getting a vision of Apollo. He then knocks down Conlan, and although Conlan is announced as the winner by a split decision, Donnie earns everybody’s respect, including Conlan's, who calls him the future of the division. The film ends with Rocky carrying on the tradition with Creed by his side, climbing the 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts. While the characters and events in Creed are entirely fictional, the movie was created as a tribute to Coogler’s father, who was a big Rocky fan and inspired the idea of a young man changing the life of one of his father's heroes. The film's success led to a sequel, Creed 2, and a third installment, Creed 3, which is set to be released on November 23, 2022, with Michael B. Jordan making his directorial debut. Creed is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Creed Plot
The 2015 sports drama film, Creed, follows the journey of Adonis "Donnie" Johnson, the illegitimate son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Donnie is serving time in a Los Angeles youth detention center when Apollo's widow, Mary Anne, visits and offers to take him in. Years later, Donnie quits his job and travels to Philadelphia to follow his dream of becoming a professional boxer. He visits Rocky Balboa, his father's old rival-turned-friend, and asks him to become his trainer. Despite reluctance from Rocky, who has already made a one-off comeback despite suffering brain trauma during his career as a fighter, he eventually agrees.
Donnie trains at the Front Street Gym and finds a love interest in Bianca, an up-and-coming singer, and songwriter in the early stages of progressive hearing loss. He defeats a local fighter, Leo "The Lion" Sporino, under his biological mother's surname, Johnson, and the fight name "Hollywood." However, his opponents leak the news that he is Creed's illegitimate son, leading to an offer for him to fight world light heavyweight champion "Pretty" Ricky Conlan, who is being forced into retirement by an impending prison term. Conlan offers to make Donnie his final challenger provided that he fights using his father's surname, Creed.
Donnie eventually agrees, and Rocky is diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Donnie confronts Rocky and refuses to train for his fight with Conlan if Rocky doesn't accept treatment, which Rocky finally agrees to. Donnie fights Conlan in Conlan's hometown of Liverpool, and many parallels emerge between the bout and Apollo and Rocky's first fight forty years earlier. Donnie goes the distance, but Conlan wins on a split decision, and Donnie has won the respect of Conlan and the crowd. The film ends with Donnie and a frail but improving Rocky climbing the 72 steps outside the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The film explores themes of legacy, family, and mentorship. Donnie is driven by his desire to prove himself and to carry on his father's legacy, while Rocky struggles with his own mortality and legacy. Their relationship, which starts as a mentor-mentee dynamic, evolves into a father-son bond. Donnie's relationship with Bianca also adds another layer of depth to the story, as they both have their own aspirations and challenges to overcome. Overall, Creed is a well-crafted film that honors the legacy of the Rocky franchise while also standing on its own. The performances by Michael B. Jordan as Donnie and Sylvester Stallone as Rocky are compelling, and the film's soundtrack, which includes songs by artists like Future and Meek Mill, adds to its energy and atmosphere. Whether or not you are a fan of boxing films, Creed is worth a watch for its well-rounded characters and themes.
Is Creed based on a true story - FAQs
Adonis Donnie Johnson is the son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, but he was born out of wedlock. He serves time in a Los Angeles youth detention center when Creed's widow, Mary Anne, visits and offers to take him in.
Donnie's dream is to become a professional boxer like his father, Apollo Creed. He approaches Rocky Balboa, Apollo's old rival-turned-friend and former heavyweight champion, to become his trainer.
Rocky has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer. He is initially unwilling to undergo chemotherapy, citing its inability to save his wife, Adrian, when she had ovarian cancer. Donnie's love interest, Bianca, is also dealing with early stages of progressive hearing loss.
Pretty Ricky Conlan is the world light heavyweight champion who is being forced into retirement by an impending prison term. He offers to make Donnie his final challenger, provided that he fights using his father's surname, Creed.
Donnie gives Conlan a tough fight, knocking him down for the first time in his career, but ultimately loses on a split decision. However, he wins the respect of Conlan and the crowd. The film ends with Donnie and a frail but improving Rocky climbing the 72 steps outside the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.